Suspect in 2 Prostitutes' Deaths Hangs Self in Jail

ST. LOUIS — A man charged with abducting, torturing and strangling two prostitutes hanged himself in jail while under suicide watch, possibly taking to the grave secrets about unsolved slayings of other women.

Investigators found Maury Troy Travis, 36, dead in his jail cell Monday night. His death came as investigators continued an investigation into the killings of 10 black women whose bodies were found in the St. Louis area since April 2001.

Police Capt. Harry Hegger said Tuesday that the case remains active, with investigators still hoping to link Travis to several victims.

"Whether he's alive or dead, we have to bring some resolution to these cases," Hegger said. "We're pretty sure he's responsible for a large number of bodies."

Travis, arrested Friday, surfaced after investigators traced to him a letter and map sent last month to a newspaper, which led authorities to a woman's corpse, according to a federal complaint filed Friday.